Jo Lankester

Topographia: harmonies of place

Onespace 11 April - 10 May 2025

Jo Lankester’s Topographia: harmonies of place

In richly layered prints, Jo Lankester evokes the texture of Queensland’s north. A recent move onto the foreshore of Townsville’s North Ward, an established beachside suburb overlooking the sea toward Magnetic Island, has ushered birds into the foreground of her imagery, along with the trees, undergrowth, and lichens that attract them. Behind the abstracted layers of her prints is an ambient tropical light exuding local heat, warmth, and fecundity.

In this exhibition, she includes the black and white cockatoos, which frequent the local almond trees between September and March (when they produce seeds). She describes these birds as ‘curious and confident characters’, overlaying their images on surfaces constructed like the lichens Lankester finds so compelling—thick, deep and full of mysterious organic layers. This background shines through the images of the birds, the texture and tenor of their form denoting their sensitivity and longevity—as avian creatures (the great survivors of the dinosaur age)—within the global ecosystem.

In Kapok (2025) the deep red surface is built up with layers, flowers embroidered into the paper with hemp cord, drawing parallels between the cotton tree and its shared resilience and symbiotic relationship with lichen. This fungal colony compiles environmental histories, holding evidence of weather and passing insects captured amongst its detritus—sensed in the scratchy surfaces and irregular layers of ink embedded in the background.

In Terminilia Cattappa–Beach Almond (2025), Lankester introduces a new ‘mokulito’ process, with the woodblock technique developing a quieter background, allowing for ‘the single branch stretching across the paper to recall my observations of the beach almond tree on my walk: a selective memory.’

There is a shift, in this work, toward the observational, that accompanies Lankester’s ongoing environmental sensitivity; stitched lines symbolise an instinct to mend the landscape. ‘The use of collage too is deliberate; I’m all too aware that, one day, neither lichen nor birds may survive. In this work, perhaps I am collaging their vibrant existence into perennial memory.’ As in her previous practice, the work is an evocation of her material memory, layered by the tangibility of her experiences—physical, tactile, emotional—in this place.

23 March 2025

Louise Martin-Chew

Jo Lankester

W: jolankester.com | Onespace

 

Professional Summary

 

Jo Lankester is a printmaker based in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking in 1994 at the Victorian College of the Arts and relocated to Townsville in 1998. Jo has held seven solo exhibitions and received numerous awards and grants. She has also undertaken over ten commissions, residencies, and curatorial projects. Jo is an accomplished printmaker who specialises in multi-colour plate intaglio and planographic printing. Her artwork not only celebrates the natural world but also addresses the pressing issue of climate change and its impact on our ecosystem. Jo draws inspiration from the diverse landscapes of her local region, including the dry and wet tropical areas extending west to Charters Towers, Magnetic Island, and north to Weipa. Her work often focuses on lichens and birds, reflecting the seasonal changes in her surroundings.

Education

 

Bachelor of Fine Arts – Printmaking, Victorian College of the Arts

1994

 

Achievements

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS                        
2025 Topographia: harmonies of place, Onespace, Qld

2022 Luminous Microhabitats, Onespace, Qld

2020 Mind's Eye: Mapping the Landscape, Onespace, Qld
2019 Accretion: Mapping the landscape, Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Qld  
2015 Symbiosis, The Art Vault, Mildura, Vic
2014 Cornerstone, major solo exhibition, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville, Qld
2008 Grass Trees, a little white space, The Brewery, Townsville, Qld
2000 Reflections: Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Niche Space, Townsville, Qld  

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 Mervyn Moriarty Landscape Exhibition, 2023, Queensland Regional Art Awards, Touring Exhibition

2022 Legacy: reflections on Mabo national tour, Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts

2020 Libris Awards; The Australian Artists' Book Prize, Artspace Mackay, Qld
2019 4th Global Print, Douro, Portugal
2018 PCA Print Commission, seven venues, Vic, NSW, QLD, TAS, WA
2018 Inkmasters Print Exhibition, Cairns, Qld
2017 Peebles Print Prize, Finalists Exhibition, Queenscliff Gallery & Workshop, Vic
2017 3rd Global Print, Douro, Portugal
2017 Partners in Print, Inkmasters Cairns & Sydney Printmakers, Kick Arts, Contemporary Arts, Cairns, and Spot81 Gallery
2016 Inkmasters Print Exhibition, Tank Arts Centre, Cairns, Qld
2016 She Exhibition, Walker St Gallery & Arts Centre, Dandenong, Vic
2016 39th Alice Price, Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs, NT
2015 The Australian Print Triennial, Print Prize, Mildura, Victoria
2013 Strand Ephemera 2013, The Strand, Gallery Services, Townsville, Qld
2012 Connections, Queensland Regional Art Awards Touring Exhibition, John Flynn Place Museum & Gallery, Cloncurry, Mt Isa Civic Centre, Mt Isa, State Library of Queensland, Brisbane, Tyto Regional Art Gallery, Ingham, Qld
2011 Strand Ephemera, The strand, Gallery Services, Townsville, Qld
1994 Canson Student Print Award: Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Vic

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Onespace Represented Artists: Riverine, Onespace, Qld

The artist has an extensive exhibition history spanning over two decades, with works featured in group exhibitions from 1995 to 2021.

 

COLLECTIONS
National Gallery of Australia Prints and Drawings collection, Art Bank, Artspace Mackay, Canson, Camberwell Grammar School, Grafton Regional Gallery, Lake Macquarie Art Gallery, Presbyterian Ladies College, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Print Council of Australia Archive, Shelford Girls Grammar, State Library of Queensland, State Library of Victoria, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Westbourne Grammar City of Yarra, Douro Museum Printmaking Collection Portugal. Queensland Health, Townsville. 

Works held in National and International private collections. 

 

CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2024 Seven + Seven: printmaking across unknown terrain, Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville City Galleries

2022 Recent Acquisition: City of Townsville Art Collection, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville City Galleries

2016 Belonging: in the Tropics, a Bookplate Exchange Folio by PressNorth Printmakers, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville City Galleries
2014 PressNorth Printmakers: Dexterity, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville City Galleries
2012 PressNorth: Out of the Box, Pinnacles Art Gallery, Riverway Arts Centre, Townsville City Galleries
2012 The Expanded Field of Printmaking, Umbrella Studio of Contemporary Arts, Townsville
2011 PressNorth: Place & Being, Artspaced Inc & Brush & Press Studio, Townsville
2011 Neoteric Printmakers, Umbrella Studio, Townsville

 

Additional Information

 

AWARDS, GRANTS & COMMISSIONS

2023 ARIA Property Group 

2017 Peebles Print Prize, Finalists Exhibition- Highly Commended

2015 Nth Qld, Art Awards, Most Outstanding Visual Artist Award

2014 59th Townsville Art Awards, Printmaking Award, Judge Maude Page 

2013 58th Townsville Art Awards Printmaking Award, Judge Mandy Martin 2013-14 RAF PressNorth Printmakers Professional Development Project 

2011 Neoteric Printmakers, Umbrella Studio- RADF Funding 

1995 2nd Student International Art Biennial, Macedonia 

1994 Canson National Student Print Award

 

Peebles Print Prize - Highly Commended Jo Lankester

Watch the official announcement of the Peebles Print Prize at Queenscliff Gallery & Workshop by Hertha Gluge-Pot.

Congratulations to Olivia Mazzone, winner of the inaugural Peebles Print Prize.

High commendations by Hertha Kluge-Pott to Michele Kershaw for Re:Sown and Jo Lankester for Rhytidome Viscaceae – Townsville II.

https://qgw.com.au/ppp-official-opening-winner-announcement/

Impressions 2016 at The G.R.A.I.N. Store, Nathalia, Victoria

I am pleased to let you know that my work Cellulose - Anderson Park featured in IMPRESSIONS 2016 at the Australian Print Workshop has been selected for and exhibition to be held at The G.R.A.I.N. Store, Nathalia, Victoria.

This exhibition includes a selection of 52 IMPRESSIONS works curated by the staff and committee of The G.R.A.I.N. Store and will be on display from 9 April until 20 May 2017.

The G.R.A.I.N Store stands for Growing Rural Arts in Nathalia, and is a not-for-profit rural arts center with a history of exhibitions, performances and workshops. It fosters art which furthers the community, the environment, rural health, reconciliation and education while contributing to the economic development of the area.

The exhibition is a fantastic opportunity to broaden the exposure of contemporary Australian printmaking to regional audiences.

Thank you to the Australian Print Workshop and The G.R.A.I.N. Store, Nathalia, Victoria

To read more click on this link to an article published by the Riverine Herald on April 03 2017

Jo Lankester, Cellulose - Anderson Park, 2016, Etching, Drypoint with Relief Roll 20 x 15cm

About Place an Exhibition of Prints by Jo Lankester, Zelma Schulten & Rhonda Stevens

About Place an exhibition of prints and print sculptures by Jo Lankester, Zelma Schulten & Rhonda Stevens telling a visual story About Place, Townsville. The exhibition Opened at 12pm on Sunday 16th June 2013 as part of the Celebrate Townsville Festival.

Location: Brush & Press Studio @ Artisans on Flinders, 354 Flinders St, Townsville
10am-4.30pm Mon-Fri
9.30am-1.30pm Sat & Sun

Exhibition duration: 9 June until 14 July 2013

Jo Lankester 
Artist Statement

The Landscape has always been of interest in my work. I am inspired by the colours, textures, natural rock and land formations, insects, trees, and the esoteric nature of place.
I believe the landscape depicts its own story to be told. I draw inspiration in the solitude of drawing on location. The process I go through to create my pictures is that I start to see and draw the landscape in the distance and then gradually focus on subjects in closer proximity until I start to see and interpret the essential character of place.
These Monotype is reflective of winter in the dry tropics which I have interpreted to be the essential character of Queensland.

Jo Lankester, MT Stuart IV, Monotype, 2012, 76 x 56cm, $545 framed

Jo Lankester,  MT, Stuart Grass Trees II, 2012, Monotype, 76 x 56cm, $545 Framed

Zelma Schulten
Artist Statement

Life’s journey
“Mountains cannot be surmounted except by winding paths” J.W. Goethe (1749-1832)
I have used Townsville’s picturesque landscapes as symbols to portray my journey through life. Local paths, bridges, waterways and mountains represents voyages, crossings of tribulations, decision making, challenges, failures and triumphs.
Even though we share life and the landscape, you as the viewer, will have your own unique connection to some very familiar Townsville scenes. So too will we all experience life differently as individuals and will make our own unique decisions with different outcomes.
The landscape, similar to our life, is constantly changing: new seedlings will sprout, streams will redirect, harsh changes will be made by nature’s forces, roads will be closed, but still the journey will continue

Zelma Schulten, Kissing Point’s Path, Zink plate Etching, 20 x 25, 2012 cm, Edition 30, $295.00 framed

Zelma Schulten, Wooden Bridge over Creek, Zink plate Etching, 20 x 24,6 cm,2012, Edition 30, $295.00 framed

Zelma Schulten, Ross River from Riverside Gardens II, Copper plate Etching and Drypoint, 32 x 26 cm, 2012, $295.00 framed

Zelma Schulten, My Castle II, Zink plate Etching and Drypoint, 20 x 16,5 cm, 2012, $295.00 framed

Rhonda Stevens
Artist statement

Rhonda Stevens lives and works on Magnetic Island and her natural environment remains a constant source of inspiration with the myriad complexities of humanity, particularly the disparate interconnectedness of peoples and things
 After following her love of sculpture from studying at Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne she has moved into the magical multi leveled world of printmaking and seeks to explore both in the developing of her art.
Is place caught in the shadows, the reflections, the echoes, or is it “about place” where we are in time trammeled in the continuous flux of the mix of life?
The very nature of Place is its always shifting let us keep exploring everywhere with our natural sense of wonder not blinkered by the material world

Rhonda Stevens,Tickle, Etched Aluminium & Charbonnel Ink, 2013, 55 x 36 cm, $295.00

Rhonda Stevens, Auguries on the Sea Shore, Etched Aluminium & Charbonnel Ink, 2013, 55 x 36 cm, $295.00

Rhonda Stevens, Shadows on the Wall 1, Etched Aluminium & Charbonnel Ink, 2013, 55 x 36 cms, $295.00

Rhonda Stevens, Shadows on the Wall 2, Etched Aluminium & Charbonnel Ink, 2013, 55 x 36 cm, $295.00

To find out more about Celebrate Townsville Click Here

P.S. To purchase any of the prints and prints sculptures featured please contact me directly or come into Artisans on Flinders, 345 Flinders St, Townsville

Asymmetry Prints and Paintings by Kath Cornwall

ASYMMETRY
   
Kath Cornwall
Artist statement
When I make art, I feel a separation from myself occurring. As I analyse my subject, I achieve a sense of higher consciousness.  All my imperfections roll out in a cascade of marks abstracted from my sensory perception of the landscape before me.  Here is where I then connect with my inner self.
I like to explore the concept of evoking a human presence from the landscape.  I can sense this duality in our world and zone in on specific elements within the environment, like trees, by treating them with an intimacy as if they were sitting with me for a portrait, up close.  
Seeking to relay a live human-like relationship with the immediate surroundings, when visually describing my subject, I tend toward the raw graphic energy of the drawing element within my paintings.  Here I can create a sense of immediacy, showing evidence of the movement in my creative process.  I am interested in the driving force of pattern, intimacy, interconnectedness, organic form and the interplay of light and line. My drypoint etchings are abstracted from completed graphic styled paintings. I truly enjoy this process as it allows a complete give from me into the focus on detail.  I love the effect of drypoint with its roughness, softness and depth of tone.
I love the tree, it is a challenge, but is forgiving.  It provides a cerebral presence as I work, so that I may escape into its folds and scatterings of colour, and yet create a substantial form.  A tree may captivate me as it emulates water, its living self stilled in a position of flow, or bowing and wrinkling to the weight of time on its shoulders, the angles of a human figure.

This exhibition was on display at brush & Press Studio from 3rd August until 2 September 2012

PressNorth - Out of the Box 5 Oct - 11 November 2012

Pressnorth Out of the Box is a group exhibition comprising of 21 printmakers and book artists form the Townsville base Artist Run Initiative, Pressnorth. Each artist will showcase a body of their current work celebrating the diversity of this thriving print community in North Queensland.

Vince Bray, Jan Daly, Tony Fitzsimmons, Donna Foley, Margaret Genever, Michelle Hall, Sylvia Hewitt, Sandi Hook, Sheree Kinlyside, Karen Landt-Isley, Margot Laver, Jo Lankester, Hannah Murray, Jill O'Sullivan, Irene Rae, Zelma Schulten , Gabriel Smith, Maxine Smith, Rhonda Stevens, Jenny Terrey, Sandra Wright.

Established in April 2009, Pressnorth comprises of 50 + members, representing individuals and independently operated presses including Jo Lankester Brush & Press Studio, Donna Foley Garage Press, Ron McBurnie Monsoon Press, and Sheree Kinlyside Red Rag Press.

Pressnorth Out of the Box
5 October until 11 November 2012
Pinnacles Gallery Riverway Arts Centre 20 Village Boulevard Thuringowa Central Q 4817

Supervillains Exhibition Review

Townsville Bulletin, NQ Life, 7 April 2012

Supervillains is an all male print exhibition with comic book inspiration; participating artists have explored the dynamic influence of comic books integrating this concept into their current practice and for some, discovering new media and techniques while exploring this theme to produce limited edition prints for the exhibition.

Local and interstate male artists have created artworks using a range of printmaking techniques including etching, linocut, woodcut, screenprint and digital prints for the Supervillans exhibition.

Artists; Douglas Arana, John Bradshaw, Kenny Deaner, Simon Fleming, Byron Howells, Dylan Howells, Garth Jankovich, Shane Keen, Ron McBurnie, Eric Nash, Gerald Soworka, Josh Dykgraaf, Jonathan McBurnie and Steven Saphore.  

Jo Lankester with curators Kath Cornwall and Shane Keen invite you to enjoy this exhibition. It can be viewed at Brush & Press Studio, 375 Flinders St, Townsville from Friday 30^th March until Sunday 20^th May 2012.

Supervillians: Dylan Howells Linocut

Artist and musician Dylan Howells creates his first ever linocut print.

Dylan and I have been friends for 25years, have two children together and have finally collaborated on producing a print of Dylan's artwork. Dylan has used linocut as his chosen print media for the exhibition Supervillians, an all male printmaking exhibition curated by Kath Cornwall. The graphic qualities of linocut lends beautifully to Dylan's image intended for the exhibition.

Supervillians will be on display at Brush & Press Studio during April 2012.

Happy Printing!

Warmly,
Jo Lankester

Sylvia Hewitt: Little Pressures 25th February until 22 March 2012

Brush & Press Studio is proud to present an exhibition by emerging printmaker Sylvia Hewitt.
 
An exhibition of artist books and Intaglio prints, developed in the varying techniques of printmaking. A visual journey of the past two years of knowledge gained through the tuition from a number of workshops, TAFE, and studio practice. This exhibition is running in conjunction with, A Pressing Year, at Art on Kings, shop 6 & 7/203 Kings Rd, Pimlico, Townsville, Qld, Australia.

Sylvia Hewitt began her printmaking journey in early 2010 when she signed up for a collagraph workshop I was instructing. Since then Sylvia has enthusiastically devoured as many techniques and processes she can and has recently purchased a printing press. Her exhibition is a delightful exploration of etchings, collagraphs, artist books and box sets.

The exhibition can be view until 22 March 2012

Brush & Press Studio
375 Fliinders St, Townsville, 4810
Mon: 10 am-4.30pm
Tues: Closed
Wed: 10am-4.30pm
Thur: 10am-4.30pm
Fri: 10am-4.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9.30am-12.30pm    

Neoteric Print: Artist Douglas Arana Printing at Brush & Press Studio for Month of Print

Neoteric Print is a celebration of the diverse print media currently being explored in Townsville amongst emerging and mid career artists.

Townsville Has a dynamic printmaking community which has been developing over a long period of time incubating, and still currently offered, at the Barrier Reef Institute TAFE then a Bachelor of Visual Arts at James Cook University, and most recently the forming of Pressnorth, a Townsville based printmaking group comprising of 40 members actively exhibiting, teaching and earning a living from printmaking.

Douglas Arana is one of 13 artists participating in Neoteric Print at Umbrella Studio from 30 September to 5 November 2011.

Printmaking is widely celebrated within Australia with Townsville being one of the most vibrant printmaking communities with artists winning awards in recognition of their skills across many mediums including artist books. Neoteric Print is part of a national Month of Print and co-insides with Impact 7 an International Multi-Disciplinary Printmaking Conference, 27-30 September 2011, Hosted by Monash University, Caulfield, Victoria.

neoteric - Used to describe a person, especially an author, it means one belongs to modern/recent times—but it might also refer to a person having a modern outlook or new ideas; when used of things, it indicates that they are modern, new, or recent.

These following images are of Douglas Arana printing two works for the exhibition at Brush & Press Studio, 375 Flinders Street Townsville.

Neoteric Print: Doug Arana, Aja Ausman, Kelly Bianchi, John Bradshaw, Laura Castell, Michelle Hall, Donna Foley, Karen Fiorito, Sheree Kinlydise, Jo Lankester, Kyana Pike, Gerald Soworka, Sandra Wright

Exhibition Opening: 7pm Friday 30 September by Jo Lankester

Artist Talk: 11am Sunday 9 October 2011

Exhibition Duration 30 September 6 November 2011

Brush & Press Studio is possible thanks to the Renew Townsville Initiative www.renewtownsville.com

Happy Printing!

Warmly,

Jo Lankester

P.S Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

Neoteric Print: Artist Laura Castell Printing at Brush & Press Studio for Month of Print

Neoteric print

Contemporary printmaking artists, working with new ideas and processes pushing the boundaries of traditional printmaking practice in a gallery setting. The mediums used by these artists range from new variations on traditional intaglio and relief techniques, to digital video projections.

Laura Castell is one of 13 artists participating in Neoteric Print at Umbrella Studio from 30 September to 6 November 2011.

While planning for this exhibition I titled the exhibition to be quite open to interpretation. I did not want to be descriptive and set a theme that directed each artist away from their current practice. I feel it is quite important to keep true to your own concepts and aesthetic ideas when exhibiting in a group exhibition.

neoteric - Used to describe a person, especially an author, it means one belongs to modern/recent times—but it might also refer to a person having a modern outlook or new ideas; when used of things, it indicates that they are modern, new, or recent.

These following images are of Laura Castell printing one of two works for the exhibition at Brush & Press Studio, 375 Flinders Street Townsville. This is the first time Laura has worked to this scale. All the prints in the exhibition are 800 x 600 mm.

 

 Neoteric Print: Doug Arana, Aja Ausman, Kelly Bianchi, John Bradshaw, Laura Castell, Michelle Hall, Donna Foley, Karen Fiorito, Sheree Kinlydise, Jo Lankester, Kyana Pike, Gerald Soworka, Sandra Wright

Exhibition Opening: 7pm Friday 30 September by Jo Lankester

Artist Talk: 11am Sunday 9 October 2011

Exhibition Duration 30 September 6 November 2011

Brush & Press Studio is possible thanks to the Renew Townsville Initiative www.renewtownsville.com

Warmly,

Jo Lankester

P.S  You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing that you think you cannot do.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Compact prints 2010 Exhibition , Exchange & Auction: Umbrella Studio, Townsville

Welcome to my blog on printmaking.

Compact Prints 2010 is currently showing at Umbrella Studio in Townsville, Australia.

The biennial print exchange exhibition is Umbrella's trademark exhibition attracting participants nationally and internationally.

The exhibition opened on Friday 8th October with a sensational bang! Artists were asked to submit two works, one for the touring exhibition, and one for exchange. Vicki Salisbury and her team asked the artists to donate a third work for auction to raise money for the print studio located in the basement of the building.

The auction went fast and furiously, I got caught up in excitement and purchased at least 7 prints for my collection. I invited my 14 year old son, Holden, to start him on his journey as an educated art buyer, he bought two prints :-).

The exhibition is on until 7 November 2010, Umbrella Studio 482 Flinders Street, Townsville.

Happy printmaking!

Warmly,
Jo Lankester

Compact prints 2010, Umbrella Studio
Jo Lankester
Fissure, 2010
12 x 12 cm
2 copper plate colour Sugarlift Aquatint etching

© Jo Lankester 2010